increments Now it shall bee sufficient to touch succinctly and plainely when by what meanes Româ— became the head of al Churches the truth therfore of this point is this viz. That for the space of sixe hundred and six yeares after Christ the Byshops of Rome liued in all dutifull obedience vnto the Emperours neither was the Church of Rome the head of all other Churches but one of the three patriarchall seates wherof mention is made in the first famous councell of Nice which was called by the worthy Emperour Constantinus surnamed the great Two things I haue to proue for the clearing of this question the one the subiection of the Bishops of Rome in Anno 606. vnto the Emperour The other of the supremacie of the Church of Rome after that time Concerning the former most impudent and intollerable is the Popes insolencie when he exalteth himself aboue kings and Emperours threatning them that he can depose them from their scepters regalities dispossesse them of their Empires and dominions For Gregory surnamed the great a very famous Byshop of Rome when he was appointed by the Emperour Mauritius to publish a certaine law sent him from the said Emperour did not refuse to accomplish the Emperours designement but very dutifully and loyally acknowledged himselfe to be the Emperours subiect and of duty bound to execute his coÌ„mand therein albeit he deemed the law to be in some part therof disagreeable to Gods holy wil. These are the Byshops own words Ego quidem iussioni subiectus eundem legem per diuersas terrarum partes transmittifeci quia lex ipsa omnipotenti deo minime concrodat ecce per suggestionis meae paginam serenissimis dominis nunciaui vtrobique ergo quae debui exolui qui imperatori obedientiam praebui pro deo quod sensi minime tacui Englished thus I subiect to your coÌ„mandement haue caused the same law to be sent through diuers parts of the land and because the law is not agreeable to Gods holy wil behold I haue intimated so much vnto your maiesty by my Epistle I haue therfore discharged my duty in both respects as who haue yeelded my obedience to the Emperour haue concealed what I thought in Gods behalfe These are the words of the good Byshop of Rome for that Church was in good case order in his time age out of whose discourse I note first that Pope Gregory S. Gregory as the Papists terme him as famous as learned a man as euer was Byshop of Rome acknowledgeth the Emperour to be his Lord and Soueraigne Secondly that he confesseth himselfe to be the Emperours subiect Thirdly that he freely and willingly granteth that hee oweth faithfull and loyall obedience to the Emperour for which duty he durst not but publish the Emperours law though in some part against Gods wil as he deemed it and that least he should haue bene guiltie of disloyaltie towards his Prince and Soueraigne Touching the latter the cruel tyrant Phocas who rauished many godly matrons murdered the emperor Mauâ—ritius with his three sons Theodosius Teberius and Constantinus decreed that the RomaÌ„ seat shuld be the head of al churches This to be so I haue proued else wher at large out of many famous Chronographers viz. Sigebertus Platina Palmerius Bergomensis Polidorus Marianus Scotus Martinus Polonus Here it shal be enough to adde the testimony of Rhegino a famous popish Abbot These are his words Hic obtinuit apud Phocam principem vt sedes romana caput esset omnium ecclesiarum He obtained hee speaketh of Bonifacius the Byshop of Rome of the Emperour Phocas that the Church of Rome should be the head of all Churches Hermannus Contractus an other famous Chronographer hath these expresse words Hoc tempore Phocas Romanam ecclesiam omniuÌ„ ecclesiarum caput esse constituit Englished thus At this time Phocas decreed the Church of Rome to be the head of all other Churches So then Gregorie the good Byshop of Rome died in the second yeare of Phocas his Empire about which time Mauritiuâ— the Emperour was murdred fiue yeares after that Rome was made the head of all Churches That is to say 607. yeares after Christs sacred byrth and most holy aduent Iohannes Nanclerus a late writer of high esteeme with all papists and consequently of great force against them hath these words Phocas pontificis suasione publica ac ad vniuersum orbemdimissa sanctione constituit vt romanae ecclesiae romanoque pontifici omnes orbis ecclesiae obedirent quod retroactis temporibus non ad vnguem seruabatur maxime a graecis Englished thus Phocas by the perswasion of Boniface the third then Byshop of Rome made a publique coÌ„stitutioÌ„ sent it through out the whole world in which he decreed that all churches in the world should obey the church and Byshop of Rome which thing was not exactly obserued in former time especially of the Greekes Thus writeth this famous popish Cronographer whose testimony is able to confound al papists popish falsely challenged primacie For first pope Boniface was made byshop of Rome but Anno. 607. so that Rome was 606. yeares without her now chalenged primacie Secondly the fathers of the great church S. Epiphanius S. Chrisostome S. Bassil S Gregorie Nazianzene and the rest did not yeeld so much to the Church of Rome as to admit it for the chiefe patriarchall seate To this testimonie of this great Papist it is not amisse to adioyne the flat and humble confession of the Iesuiticall Cardinall Bellarmine who confesseth roundly and peremptorily that the popes would neuer come in person to the councels in the East-church because the Emperour would euer sit in the highest place although the Pope himselfe had bene there present in his Pontificalibus Out of whose grant three things are cleared First that the highest place in general councels was in old time reserued to the Emperour SecoÌ„dly that our holy father such is his humilitie could not endure the Emperours superioritie ouer him as the good Byshop Gregory did in his time Thirdly that the Greeke Church did neuer acknowledge the Popes vsurped primacie Alas alas how hath the late Romish Church bewitched vs CHAP. II. Of the way and meanes by which the Popes attained their vsurped primacie OF the steppes of the ladder by which the Byshops of Rome did clime vp vnto their Lordly primacie I haue elsewher discoursed at large Now I deeme it enough to insinuate in brief the generall meanes of the accomplishment thereof That Romish pontificalitie and pompe of popery came vp first by beggerly Canonists who to aduance theÌ„selues flattered the Pope gaue him more then princely and royall titles the popes owne deare Doctor a Spanish Fryer professour of Theologie in the famous Vniuersitie of Salmantica Franciscus a Victoria a witnesse that cannot but carrie credite on his backe telleth vs roundly without blushing who after hee hath rehearsed
his holinesse shall appoint or aproue Secondly if the popes legates doe not agree to the resolution and Decrees of the councell or if any thing bee decreed with the consent of the lagates which the pope liketh not and therefore will not aproue the same all such decrees be they many be they few are cassiered disanulled frustrate and of none effect Thirdly all the Byshops who onely haue definitiue voyces in all popish councels are solemnly sworne to be true vnto the pope and to defend his canons and vsurped papall soueraigntie not onely against Turke Iew but also against all persons without exception euen also against their owne soueraigne Lords Princes and Monarches to whom they owe most sacred obedience which decree and most execrable constitution was published in the yeare 1228. after Christs most sacred IncarnatioÌ„ A.D. 1228 The Author and commaunder of that cursed decree was pope Gregorie the ninth of that name Fourthly the pope will not be present in person but sendeth messengers or Legates in his place to the councell who haue in charge to do nothing contrary to that instruction which they receiued from his mouth Fiftly wheÌ„ the fathers of the councel haue fasted long praied much coÌ„sulted grauely deliberated maturely decreed soberly commaunded strictly and anathematized seuerely and that euen with the consent assent of the popes owne Legats yet can neither others nor themselues tell vs or themselues what shall be of force therein or be holden for a lawe No no the popes holinesse sitting stately in S. Peters chaire at home must bee certified what the councell hath done and consider well of the matter least any thing be coÌ„cluded against himselfe or against his late Romish religion And consequently he allowing nothing but what is to his owne good liking it followeth of necessitie that his generall councells in these dayes are as the Wethercocke as vncoÌ„stant as the wind and as flexible as a nose of waxe For when we shall alledge the decrees of the most famous councells of Chalcedon of Constance and of Basil for the equalizing of the Byshop of Constantinople with the Byshop of Rome or for the authoritie of a generall councell aboue the pope and Byshop of Rome The popes parasites will answere â—oundly and arrogantly though neither modestly nor clarkly that such decrees and Canons were neuer confirmed by the Pope and presently if any replie vpon that answere so it be done where popery beareth the sway he shal be cast into the holy Inquisition where he shall abide vntill he haue paid the vtmost farthing and after all other tortures bee burnt with fire and faggots if he doe not condescend vnto the Popes minde For whatsoeuer the Pope defineth that must bee holden as true as the Gospell and whosoeuer withstandeth the same must be condemned for an Heretique Alas alas how hath the late Romish Church seduced vs CHAP. XVI Of popish succession in the Romish Church THe Succession of Romish Byshops is not so certaine as the Papists would beare the world in hand it is For first S. Clement whose Epistles the papists magnifie when they seem to make for their purpose testifieth for him selfe that S. Peter appointed him to bee his successour Irenaeus Epiphanius Eusebius and the Canon of the popish Masse doe all with vniforme assent place Linus and Cletus before Clemens Yet Sophronius Metaphrastes and the popish pontificall which can not lie affirme roundly and peremtorily that S. Peter liued after Linus This varietie so troubled Nanclerus a famous popish Historiographer that he was inforced to coyne this new and vntimely hatched distinction Viz that Saint Peter did indeed ordeine and appoint Clement to bee his successor but Clemâ—us perceiuing that it would bee a thing pernicious vnto the Church if one Byshoppe should choose an other to bee his Successour yeeldeth vp his right and so Liuus was elected in his place The receitall of this imaginarie solution is a sufficient confutation of it selfe Secondly many Schismes haue beene in the Romish Church amongst our Romish byshops and that for very many yeares together so that the latter can neuer be proued constantly to haue descended successiuely without interruption from the former The great papist Onuphrius Panvinius reckoneth vp thirtie Schisimes in the church of Rome The first schisme was betweene Carnelius the good Byshop and Novatus the anti-pope in the year of our lord 252. A.D. 252 the 2. was betwixt Liberius and Felix in the yeare 355. A.D. 355 the third was betwixt Damasus and Vrsicinus in the yeare 366. A.D. 366 the fourth betweene Bonifacius and Enlalius in the yeare 420. A.D. 420 the fift schisme was betweene Symmachus and Laurentius in the yeare 428. A.D. 428 the sixt schisme was betweene Bonifacius and Dioscorus in the yeare 530. A.D. 530 the seauenth was betweene Syluerius and Vigilius in the yeare 538. A.D. 538 the eight was betweene Petrus and Theodorus in the yeare 685. A.D. 685 and here by the way I wish the reader to obserue seriously out of this famous papist Onuphrius that the Byshops of Rome for the space almost of seuen hundred yeares after the sacred incarnation of Christ Iesus acknowledged the Emperour for their superiour and Lord as without whose Letter patents they could haue no iurisdiction nor be reputed lawfull Byshop Of which point I haue else where writteÌ„ more at large the 9. schisme was between Theodorus and Paschalus in the year 687 A.D. 687 the 10. schisme was between Theophilactus and Paulus in the yeare 757. A.D. 757 the eleuenth schisme was betweene Constantinus Philippus in the yeare 767. A.D. 767 the twelfth was betweene Zinzinus and Eugenius in the yeare 827 A.D. 827 the thirteene schisme was betweene Anastasius and Benedictus in the yeare 855. A.D. 855 the 14 was between Formosus Sergius in the year 891. A.D. 891 the 15. was between Leo the first and Christopherus Sergius the 3. in the year 903. A.D. 903 the 16. schisme was between Benedictus the first against Leo the eight in the yeare 963. A.D. 963 the 17. schisme betweene Boniface the 7. and Bennet the sixt in the yeare 974. A.D. 974 the 18. was betweene Iohn the 17. and Gregorie the fift in the yeare 996. A.D. 996 the 19. was betweene Bennet the 7. and an other namelesse aduersarie in the yeere 1012. A.D. 1012 the 20. was betweene Siluester the 3. and Bennet the eight in the yeare 1045. A.D. 1045 the 21. betweene Bennet the ninth and Iohn Mincius the aduerse competitor in the yeare 1058. A.D. 1058 the 22. was betweene Honorius the second and Alexander the second in the 1061. A.D. 1061 the 23. betweene Clement the third and Gregorie the seuenth in the yeare 1080. A.D. 1080 the 24. was betweene Gregorie the eight and Gelasius the second in the yeare 1118. A.D. 1118 the 25. was betwene Celestinus the second and Honorius the second in the yeare 1124. A.D. 1124 the 26. was betweene Innocentius
the second and Victor the fourth in the yeare 1138. A.D. 1138 the 27. was betweene Victor the fourth Paschalis the third Celestius the third Innocentius the third and Alexander the 3. in the yeare 1177. A.D. 1177 this schisme endured for the space of 16. years The 28. was between Nicholaus the fift and Iohannes the 22. in the yeare 1327. A.D. 1327 the 29. was betweene Clement the seuenth Benedict the eleuenth and Clement the eight in the yeare 1378 A.D. 1378 this schisme continued for the space of fiftie years the 30. schisme was betweene Iohn the 24. Gregorie the 12. Benedict the 13. in the year 1466 A.D. 1466 These three striuing and grinning as dogges for a bone I would very gladly learne how our papists can deriue from them their holy so supposed succession Thirdly a woman as Saint Paul teacheth vs is not capable of holy orders and ecclesiasticall function and consequently the popish succession which is deriued from our holy Mistresse Ioan Pope cannot possible be of force Now to this the papists can answere nothing saue only it is a fable and of no credit But gentle Reader many papists highly renowned and of great esteeme in the Churrh of Rome doe with vniforme assenâ— confirme it to be true Viz. Segeberius Gemblacensis Marâ—â—â—us Scotus Mathaeus Palmerius Martinus Polonus Philippus Bergomensis Baptista Platina Barthol Carranza and Iohannes Nanclerus who after he hath told a long tale to sâ—lue the matter after his fashion concludeth in these wordes Sed etsi fait verum nulli tamen ex hoc salutis emersit periculaÌ„ quia nec Ecclesia tunc fuit sine capite quod est Christus ait Antoninus nec â— vltimi effectus sacramentorum quae illa conferebat deficiebant eis qui deuote accipiebant scilicet gratia licet mulier non sit susceptibilis Characteris alicuius ordinis nec conficere encharistiam etiam de facto ordinata possit nec absoluere a peccato vnde ordinati ab ea erant iterum ordinandi graetiam tamen sacramentorum Christus supplebat in recipientibus dignè ignorantia facti invincibili eos excusante Englished thus But although it were true no man for all that susteined any losse of his saluation because the Church euen then had still a head which is Christ saith Antoninus Neither did they who receiued deuoutly the Sacraments which she ministred want the last effects of them which is grace albeit a woman bee neither capable of any character of order neither able to celebrate the eucharist or to absolue from sinne Whereupon such as receiued orders of her were to be ordered againe yet Christ supplyed the grace of the Sacrament in those that receiued them worthily invincible errour of the fact excusing them Thus witeth this famous popish Historiographer who imployeth his whole industrie and all his wits to defend the pope from shame and dishonour if it possibly could bee done Out of whose words I obserue First that he can not constantly denie the matter but feareth the truth of the Historie Secondly that Antoninus their reuerend Archbyshop and cononized Saint is of his opinion Thirdly that the pope is neither of necessitie the Vicar of Christ as he pretendeth noâ— yet the head of the church Fourthly that popish succession is vncertaine and of no account at all Fiftly that it is doubtfull which of their Romish Cardinals and Byshops be rightly ordered and whether they bee mere Lay-persons or priests Sixtly that then many papists both of the Clergie and of the Laitie committed most grosse palpable and flat idolatrie I proue it because none but priests canonically ordered can make Christes body and change the bread into flesh as popish religion holdeth To which I adde that none of them which receiued orders of our holy Mistris the pope were or could be priests but meere Lay-men and therefore were to be ordered againe as Nanclerus truely writeth To which I must adde this also that all the people both priests and lay-persons were bound to adore as God Almightie that which the Priests so supposed made by Mistrisse Ioan pope did elevate hold ouer their heads at Masse which for al that was but a piece of Bakers bread as popish doctrine teacheth vs neither wil invincible ignorance serue the turne as Nanclerus would haue vs beleeue Fourthly and this reason woundeth the heart and striketh dead the generall Councell of Basil deposed pope Eugenius for his contumacie and chose Amadaeus who was named Foelix the fift who liued pope nine years fiue monthes and odde dayes in which time hee consecrated and made many Cardinals Priests and Deacons This notwithstanding Eugenius crept againe into the popedome without any Canonicall election and continued in the place as Pope and consequently all Cardinals Byshops Priestes and Deacons who afterward sprang of him that is of the Church of Rome are illegitimate irregular vsurpers schismatiques and not lawfull gouernours of the Church and it will not helpe the Papists to aunswere that the councell could not depose the pope For most famous and best learned papists Cardinalis Cameracensis Abbas Panormitanus Nicolaus Cusanus Adrianus papa Cardinalis Florentinus Iohannes Gersonus Iacobus Almainus Abulensis and many others doe all constantly defend as an vndoubted trueth that a generall councell is aboue the Pope and hath power to depose the pope This case is so cleare that the Councell of Constance did De facto depose two popes Iohn the 12. and the 23. as I haue prooued at large in an other booke neither will it suffice to say that the Councell of Basill was not a lawfull Synod because it neither had the presence of the pope nor of his Legats For first the councel was called by Pope Martin the fift to be holden at Papias from whence by reason of the pest it was remooued to Senas Aterward it was translated by Alphonsus the king of Arragon continued at Basill where were present both Sigismundus the Emperor and Iulianus the popes owne Legate and after him Ludovious the Cardinall of Arles supplyed his place Againe not onely the councell of Basill but the councels also of Constance of Florence and of Lateran did all constantly and vniformely define for an vndoubted truth that a generall Councell is aboue the pope and hath authoritie to cite him to controle him and if the cause so require to depose him And for due proofe hereof the councell of Constance de facto deposed three popes Viz. Iohn 23. Gregory the 12 and Benedict the 13. and chose Martin the first and made him pope M. Gerson addeth that the councell deposed also Iohn the twelft Pope Sergius the third as is already proued disanulled the actes of Pope Formosus and caused all such as had been made Priests Byshops or Deacons by the said Formosus to take orders againe Behold the certaintie of golden excellencie of popish so highly esteemed succession Alas alas how hath
which is a shorter course that if any English Iesuite Seminarie or Iesuited papist will send me in print a direct answere to any one booke which I haue published against them and that vppon licence and securitie graunted he will appeare with an halter about his necke ready to receiue according to his deserts if hee faile in the defence of his answere and cause and for the performance thereof shall put downe his name in the printed Booke I promise herewith vnder my hand that if GOD graunt mee life and health I will fall downe vppon my knees before the most mightie learned wise and religious Monarch Iames the King of great Britaine and my most gracious Soueraigne humbly to intreate a free Charter and safe conduct or princely licence for the safe comming and safe departure of that Iesuite or Iesuited papist and also with another halter about my necke accordingly to meet encounter that mighty Goliah whosoeuer he be nothing doubting but that I shall preuaile in my humble suite to his most excellent Maiestie if any of our English papists shall be of courage to send me his answere in manner already specified If none of them dare this performe in the defence of poperie then doubtlesse may all silly papists be fully resolued that there is no truth on their side One foul-mouthed Swaggering Iesuite in his detection against M. Sutcliffe and M. Willet seemeth desirous of such an offer as I here doe make let him therefore or any other of his brethren prepare himselfe with the aduise and help of all the rest to accept the challenge and to fight the combat valiantly with mee I challenge them all ioyntly and euery one of them seuerally and I take God to witnesse that I am fully perswaded as I write and doe most heartily desire that this offer and challenge may bee accepted at the papists hands and accordingly performed as is already said Now to let passe this digression and to returne to the matter in hand I note out of the free graunt of this famous popish Byshop who was a learned man indeed these excellent and worthy Lessons First that the Greeke Church neuer beleeued popish grossely imagined purgatorie no not to the time of this popish Byshop who liued 1517. yeares after Christs glorious Ascension into Heauen Secondly that the Latin Church and Church of Rome did not beleeue the said purgatorie for many hundred years after S. Peters death whose Successor for all that the pope boasteth himselfe to be Thirdly that this imagined purgatorie was not beleeued of all the Latin Church at one and the same time but that it obtained credit Alas poore purgatorie by little and little Where note by the way gentle Reader that poperie crept into the Church by little and little and not all at one time This is a point of great importance which woundeth the papists euen at the heart Fourthly that purgatorie was not wholy and soundly knowne by the Scriptures but parlty by the Scriptures and partly by Reuelations Where I wish the Reader to marke well two things which I shall vnfold vnto him the one that by this popish doctrine of purgatorie Gods works are made vnperfect contrarie to the Doctrine of holy Moses who telleth vs that Dei perfecta sunt opera Englished thus Gods workes are perfect I proue this because as the Byshop auoucheth the Scriptures made purgatorie knowne to the Church of Rome but vnperfectly For doubtlesse if God made purgatorie knowne by the Scriptures then is purgatorie either made perfectly knowne by them or else Gods workes that is the holy Scriptures are vnperfect But I wil rather beleeue Moses the holy Prophet of God then my L. our Fisher though he be the popes cononized martyr The other that the Church hath no new reuelations touching matters of Faith For the most learned popish Schooleman their religious Fryer reuerend Byshop Melchior Canus hath these expresse wordes nec vllas in fide novas revelationes ecclesia habet Englished thus Neither hath the Church any new reuelations cōcerning matters of Faith Loe poperie is contemned by her owne deare doctors for M. Fisher saith plainly that purgatorie was not knowne at the first but after many 100 years by revelations Yet M. Canus his popish brother fellow byshop a man as learned as hee saith as plainly and more truely that the Church hath no new revelations in faith So then either purgatorie is no matter of Faith or else it came not by late revelations Let the papist answere what he can and wil he must needs here be caught by the heele Fiftly that pardons came not vp till purgatorie was found out the reason whereof is said to be this because the life of popish pardons resteth wholy in the life of popish purgatorie and consequently when the pope could get no saile for his pardons it was high time for his holinesse to inuent his purgatorie And therefore wisely saith his Byshop and our Fisher of Rochester that when the silly ignorant people were put in feare of the paines of popish purgatorie then began the popes pardons to florish and to bee of high esteeme as being thought able to preserue and defende their receiuers from the paine and flame of purgatorie fire Alas alas how hath the late Romish church bewitched vs. CHAP. XIIII Of the Popes double person COncerning the popes double person I haue written at large thereof in a peculiar treatise which is intituled the hunting of the Romish Foxe Now it shall suffice to say a little in that behalfe William Watson that popish traytour hath these words as the prudent Greeke appealed from Alexander furious to Alexander sober and Byshop Crostate from pope Adrian priuate to pope Adrian publique and as summus pontifix in cathedra Petri so may the seculars appeale from the pope as Clemens vnto his holinesse as Peter Thus writeth Watson and all the papists generally who are learned are of this opinion herein I say who are learned because the multitude and vulgar sort of papists being as blinde as beetles in popish affaires know not what the popes double person meaneth They are taught to beleeue as the pope beleeueth iumpe with the collier viz. the Church that is the pope belieueth so therefore doe I belieue so The truth of this question standeth thus that the pope or Byshop of Rome may erre personally speake erroneously preach erroneously write erroneously yet all this must be done as he is a priuate person onely This notwithstanding he can neuer erre say our papists when he defineth a matter of faith or manners iudicially and as hee is pope or a publique person so hold the papists generally of late dayes as the Iesuiticall Cardinall Bellermine the mouth of all papists telleth vs. These are his expresse wordes Multi canones docent pontificem non posse iudicari nisi inveniatur a fide deuius ergo potest deuiare a fide alioqui frustra essent illi canones
in poperie and therefore was hee enforced to vse this sillie sillie euasion viz. that the church doth tollerate them because it cannot altogether abolish the same Fourthly that God doth suffer myracles or strange euents to bee done by the power of the diuel that so the wicked for their iust deserts in regard of their former sinnes may be more confirmed in their superstitious dotage and receiue due punishment for their vaine credulitie Fiftly that not to take a â—ourney or not to doe such a thing on such a day which many Papistes obserue most superstitiously for feare of some misfortune or ill successe is heere condemned for superstition by this famous Papist Sixtly that popish priestes which daily and vsually take vppon them by their exorcismes to cast out diuells are by this learned Papist accused and condemned both of infidelitie and of temeritie And his reason is this because that the diuell cannot bee compelled to doe anie thing vnlesse it bee by the speciall and myraculous worke of God Seuenthly that the diuel therefore faineth himselfe to be compelled by such wicked rites superstious dealing thâ— his worshippers may thereby be the more deeply confirmed in their superstitious dotage and vaine credulitie To which I must needs adde as a delicate pâ—st-past for all the Iesuits and Iesuited papists that the supposed myracles done by papists are often counterfeit and plaine Legerdemaine This I wil not barely say but after my wonted maner proue it euen by the testimonie of their owne popish writers Marke well gentle Reader what I shall truely deliuer thee in this behalâ— The papists in their booke intitulted the Iesuits Catechisme haue these expresse words The kingdome of Portugall being fallen to Sebastian the holy Apostles the Iesuits conceiued a hope that by this meanes it might descend vnto their Familie and dealt with him many wayes that no man might from thence forward be capable of the crowne of Portugall except the were a Iesuit and chosen by their societie as at Rome the pope is chosen by the colledge of Cardinals And for as much as he although as superstitious as superstition it selfe could not or rather durst not condescend therevnto they perswaded him that God had appointed it should bee so as himselfe should vnderstand by a voyce from heauen neere the sea-side Insomuch as this poore prince thus carryed away resorted to the place two or three seuerall times but they could not play their parts so wel as to make him heare this voyce Thus write the learned papists of France in their booke called the Iesuits Catechisme Which booke vpon the good liking thereof the English Secular priestes haue translated into our vulgar language to which storie I adde this for explication sake that this yong king 〈…〉 vp vnder the Iesuits therefore they thought to haâ—e drawne him to their lure and bate And when they could not preuaile that way they disswaded him from marriage and to goe personally to the warres in such sort as they designed him By which vnchristian meanes he was cut off and the kingdom devolued to the King of Spaine For their onely intent was this to maintaine poperie and to suppresse the Gospel I haue proued this else-where where I haue made euident demonstration that poperie is inseperably lincked with treason and cannot consist without the support of the Spanish king There may the Reader finde at large many other like miracles wrought by the Iesuits as also their seditions and traterous dealing euery where It were expedient for all simply seduced papists and for all such as are by any meanes carryed and led into errour by the Iesuits of which faction there is too great plentie in this Realme to prouide my Anotomie and to read it againe and againe for in so doing I am perswaded and fully resolued that all carefull of their saluation would vtterly abhorre and detest all popish faction The Iesuitical religion which is the Popes owne doctrine is nothing els but an hoge-poge of Omnigitherumâ— as the secular popish priests haue constantly avouched in their printed books divulged to the whole world Alas alas how hath the late Romish Church bewitched vs. CHAP. XIX Of Popish adoration and invocation of Saints COncerning this controuersie I haue written else-where at large I deeme it here to be enough to vnfold that great superstition and grosse idolatrie which the papists commit in this behalfe The popish invocation of Saintes this day vsed in the Romish Church is the selfe same which the Gentiles vsed in olde time when they did invocate false gods I proue it because they haue pecular saints for their seuerall necessities viz. Saint Loy for their horses S. Anthonie for their Pigges S. Roch for the pestilence S. Steuen for the night S. Iohn for the day S. Nicholas for their studies Saint George for their warres S. Cosma and S. Damian for their sores S. Appolonia for their teeth S. Agnes for their Virginitie and others innumerable for the like ende and effect they errect Churchâ— to their saints they frame images to them they carry their images about in Procession they consecrate alters to them they dedicate Holy-dayes to theÌ„ they make vowes for the honour of them they offer presents to their altars and images they put Lampes tapers torches and lights before their images they kneele downe before their images they touch them they embrace them they speake to theÌ„ they intreat them as if they were yet liuings yea they seem to surpas the folly impietie of the Gentiles For they ascribe their saluation to their saints euen to such saints as of whose saint-hood wee may well stand in doubt They invocate Campion Sherwin Ballard Hart Nelson and the rest of that seditious faction Alphonsus the Iesuitâ— and late Rector of the English Colledge at Rome caused the Organs to be sounded and all the Students to come to the Chappell where himselfe hauing on his backe a white Surplesse and the stole about his necke sang a Collect of Martyrs so after his maner canonizing Campion the Traytor for a Saint Such is the seditious impudencie of newly hatched Râ—mish Iesuits of which cursed broode I haue written at large in my Anatomie And least any Iesuit or Iesuited Papist shall bee able to denie that they ascribe their saluation to saints for they vse to say they make them but Mediators of intercession and not of saluation or redemption I will proue it flatly out of their owne Bookes yea euen out of their Church-seruice which I wish the Reader to marke attentiuely In the Prayer of the Church of Rome vpon Thomas Bâ—â—kets day some-time the Arch-byshoppe of Canterbury I finde these expresse words Deus pro cuius ecclesia gloriosus pontifex Thomas gladijs impieruÌ„ occubuit prasta quasumus vt omnes qui â—ius implâ—rant â—â—xiliâ—â— petitionis suâ—â—alutarem consequantur effectum Englished thus O God for whose Church the glorious Byshop Thomas was put to death by the
THE VVoefull crie of Rome Containing a defiance to popery With Thomas Bells second challenge to all fauorites of that Romish faction Succinctly comprehending much variety of matter full of honest recreation and very profitable and expedient for all sorts of people but especially for all simply seduced Papists Goe out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receiue not of her plagues Apocal. 18.4 LONDON Printed by T.C. for William Welby and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Grayhound 1605. Academiae Cantabrigiensis Liber TO THE RIGHT HONOVRAble my very good Lord Thomas the Lord of Ellesmere Lord high Chauncellour of England SAint Paul that chosen Vessell of God Right Honourable made a base reckoning of all other things in the world in respect of the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ. This knowledge was so deare to the Princely Prophet Dauid that he desired to be but a doore-keeper in Gods house rather then to dwel in the goodly Pallaces of great Parsonages esteeming one day better in Gods Church then a thousand otherwhere This knowledge yeelded so sweete a sauour in the nosethrels of holy Moses that he chose rather to be the childe of God then to be called the sonne of King Phoraohs daughter This knowledge was to the wisest King so precious that hee reputed it not onely the beginning of wisedome but euen the finall ende which he aymed at with the loue of which knowledge hee was so rauished Oh most excellent knowledge that hauing in his owne free election what hee would receiue at Gods hands hee desireth neither long life which the greater part of people thirst after nor riches which are the greatest ioyes of al couetous worldlings nor yet the death of his enemies which the dauncing Damosell preferred before a Kingdome but he humbly asked an vnderstanding heart that he might discerne between good and euil and iudge aright Gods people committed to his charge a most wise and holy request This petition pleased God so well that he gaue the King a wise and vnderstanding heart so that there was neuer any either before or after him comparable or like vnto him And no marueile that the true Children of God desire the true knowledge of God before all other things For as our Sauiour himselfe teacheth vs this knowledge is life eternall the ioy of all ioyes But my good Lord it may here bee demaunded how this most excellent knowledge can bee attained To which I answere euen by dilligent reading of the holy Scriptures For Saint Paul writing vnto Timothie commendeth his knowledge in the holy Scriptures which he had attained of a childe and he yeeldeth this reason therof because forsooth saith the Apostle the Scriptures are able to make him wise vnto saluation Is this possible is it so indeed euen so doubtlesse Gods Spirit cannot lye Howe then commeth it to passe that the late Byshops of Rome now Cat ' e'xochen called Popes doe this day suppresse the light of the Gospel and forbid the Lay-people to read the holy Scriptures in their vulgar language How chanceth it that none may read any Commentaries vpon the old and newe Testament nor any other bookes compiled for the furtherāce of mans knowledge in that behalfe vnlesse either the said bookes Commentaries be composed by professed papists or the readers being the Popes sworne vassals haue his dispensation and licence so to doe This my good Lord is the reason that cannot in truth be denied They that doe euill hate the light fearing that it should reproue their naughtie deedes And for this end is it that the Pope can not endure the manifestation of Gods word which is a lanterne vnto our feete a bright shining light vnto our soules directing vs the path-way to heauen For this light if the pope did not smoother it vnder the ashes and violently keepe it vnder a bushell would in short time so enlighten the hearts of all well disposed people that all the world would detest the Pope all popish superstition heresies and blasphemies and all his bloodie tyrannicall and plaine antichristian dealing In regard hereof most honourable Baron and most worthy zealous christian vpright and religious Magistrate because it is not enough for a Christian to know God himselfe but he must withall heartily wish and effectually procure so much as lyeth in him that others may also know and worship the euer-liuing God with him I haue employed my studie diligence care and industrie to deliuer a very compendious enchiridion to al simple seduced Papists to other thankfull Readers wherein they may behold as cleerely as the noone-day the original of popish falsly pretended Primacie the meanes by which the Byshops of Rome aspired thereunto the royall titles and power plaine diuine ascribed to the Popes the liues maners and conversation of Popes the rotten foundations vpon which and by which Poperie is builded and vnderpropped the originall and sundry grounds of Popish Purgatorie the vanitie and vncertaintie of Popish Succession the popish execrable Excommunications Superstitions Adorations and many other matters of great moment By the due and serious consideration whereof the indifferent Reader cannot but behold the abhomination of late Romish Religion and consequently loath detest and vtterly renounce the same for euer The worke such as it is I haue dedicated vnto your Honour for two speciall causes First to intimate to the world my inward conceiued comfort ioy and solace which either is or at least ought to bee common to my selfe with all other honest and true harted English Subiects of your Lordships most honorable zealous christian conscionable vpright painefull and religious care vigillancie holy constant indeuours vnder God and his most exellent Maiestie both for the indifferencie of iustice extended at al persons aswel to the poore as to the rich which is not the vsuall practise of many Magistrates alas for the pittie and also generally for the common good and peaceable gouernment of this Kingdome Secondly to giue at the least some smal signification of a thākfull minde where power is wanting for your Lordships most honourable yea vnspeakable fauours towards me from time to time euen such and so great as without which I could not this day breathe vppon earth much lesse make vse of my small talent Quod sentio quam sit exiguum for the common good of others The Almightie giue your Lordship many long ioyfull and happy yeares with much increase of vertue holy zeale and true honour in this life and with life eternall in the world to come Amen From my Studie this first of Aprill 1605. Your Lordships most humble and bounden T. Bell. Thomas Bels defiance to Poperie with a second challenge CHAP. I. Of the originall of Popish Primacie I Haue proued at large elsewhere how Poperie crept into the Curch by peece-meale and how she receiued her daily
the late Romish church bewitched vs. CHAP. XVII Of Popish Excommunications IF I should relate verbatim the huge Masse of popish Excommunications time would sooner faile me then matter to write A fewe of them I purpose in God to rehearse by which the indifferent Reader may easily esteeme the nature and qualitie of the rest But before I come to the depth of the Mysterie I haue thought it good to admonish the Reader of these speciall points First that by popish proceeding none can excommunicate himselfe and consequently when either the Pope or other inferiour Byshops shal excommunicate al adulterers fornicators drunkards Symonists and such like then neither the Pope nor such Byshops are excommunicate albeit they be drowned vp to the eares in the selfe same sinnes Secondly that the Pope himselfe can not bee excommunicated neither by any lawe nor yet by the power of any man vnlesse it bee for heresie for which he may both bee iudged and deposed Thirdly that the Pope may graunt and giue Commission to meere Lay-persons euen vnto women to thunder out excommunications against supposed offendors These Preambles being seriously pondered let vs viewe the substance of the Text. The 28. Excommunication in number is against al such as shal appeale to a future generall councell from the sentence decree constitution or mandate of the Pope This Law was made vpon great pollicie for the maintenance of the Popes vsurped primacie First by pope Pius the 2. in the yeare 1458. and after that confirmed and extended by Pope Iulius the second in his extravagant in the yeare 1503. Materia inquit Caietanus est sacrilegium contra sedis apostolicae primatum Englished thus The matter of the Decretal or extravagant saith our Cardinall Caietain is sacriledge against the primacie of the Apostolique seate If I should recite all that the Cardinal saith in defence of this execrable excommunication I should be tedious to the Reader and he reape small or rather no commoditie by the fact This is enough for the Reader to know herein that the generall Councell of Constance which was holden in the yeare 1439. A.D. 1439 did decree flatly and constantly that the Byshop of Rome now adayes called Pope was subiect to a generall Councell and that it had authoritie to summon him to punish him and to depose him Which power they manifested practically when they deposed three popes and placed a fourth man in the pope-dome Yea the Councell auoucheth constantly and most christianly that the councell is aboue the pope as is already proued To countermaund which decree and Constitution Pope Pius the 2. Iulius the 2. published their decrees with a terrible excōmunication annexed therunto For this purpose also did pope Boniface the 8. publish his antichristian extravagāt A.D. 1297 in which he callenged both the spirituall and the temporall sword But the wortheist the wisest and the best learned papists doe this day make small reckoning of such thunderbolts The 29. Excommunication in reckoning is against the Colledge of the Cardinals of the Romish Church who by Symonie or Symonicall pacts procure themselues to be aduaunced to the pope-dome by vertue of which Excommunication all such as are made Popes by Symony or Symonicall pacts doe ipso facto incurre the sentence of excōmunication frō which they can neuer be absolved but by one that is pope in deede and canonically elected therevnto Vpon which Excommunication one of the popes Inquisitors Bartholomaeus Fumus a very learned Dominican Fryer and consequently a man of high esteeme in the Church of Rome hath published this Commentarie for the true sense and meaning of that axtravagant which pope Iulius the second devulged in that behalfe A.D. 1503 These are his expresse words Nota hic bene papa simoniacè electus non est vere papa Englished thus Note heere and that to good purpose that the Pope which is elected by Symonie is not the true Pope indeede Marke gentle Reader for Christs sake euen as thou tendrest thine owne saluation for this doctrine with the circumstances adiacent is Prora puppis for thine instruction and for the euerlasting detestation of the late vpstart Romish religion We see here most euidently by the popes owne constitution and flat decree which no man may withstand or gaine-say that whosoeuer is chosen pope by Symonie is no pope in deed Now sir let vs proceed and let vs looke circumspectly into this matter as which is of so great importance as nothing can be more Baptista Platina a man both very neere and very deere vnto the popes as who was by office Abbreviator apostolicus and consequently best acquainted with the manners and dealings of popes telleth vs roundly and constantly that the popes of latter dayes crept into the popedome by giftes bribes and Symonie These are his expresse words Eo n. tum pontificatus devenerat vt qui plus largitione ambitione non dico sanctitate vitae doctrina valeret is tantummodo dignitatis gradum bonis oppressis reiectis obtineret quem morem vtinam aliquando non retinuissent nostra tempora Englished thus For to that passe was popedō now brought that whosoeuer was able to preuaile most in giuing bribes in ambition I say not in good life doctrin that man only should haue the degree of honour and good men should be reiected Which custome would to God our dayes had neuer knowne Againe in another place the same Platina hath these words Adeò n. inoleverat hic mos vt iam cuique ambitioso liceret Petri sedem invadere Englished thus For this custome did so increase that now euery ambitious fellow might invade Peters seate or Chaire Gregorie the fift was by sedition thrust out of his throne and pope Iohn the 18. by tyrannie occupied the popedome So write both Platina and Carranza Yea Platina proceedeth further and saith thus qua quidē beatitudine Iohannes caruit fur certè in pontificatu latro non n vt par fuerat per ostium intravit Englished thus Which happie life pope Iohn wanted as who was a theefe and a robber for hee entred not in by the doore as hee ought to haue done To be briefe pope Bonifacius the 8. may sound the Trumpet for all the rest Of him Carranza the popish Fryer writeth in this manner Intravit vt Vulpes regnavit vt Lupus mortuus est vt Canis Hee entred as a Foxe he raigned as a Woolfe he dyed as a Dog See more to this effect in the tenth Chapter afore-going Thus gentle Reader two things are cleered which are of so great importance weight and moment as they are able to batter downe poperie and to draw it vnder foote For first what Byshop soeuer is made pope by giftes bribes and Simonie that Byshop is not pope indeed Secondly the Byshops of Rome for a long time haue been very wicked men haue aspired to the pope-dō by bribes and Simonie To which 2. things